Belt punching device



Oct. 31, 1950 MELBERG 2,528,282

BELT PUNCHING DEVICE Filed June 9, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICET 2,528,282 BELT PUNCHING DEVICE Frederick T. Melberg, Skokie, Ill.

Application June 9, 1948, Serial No. 31,965

(Cl. 164-91) I Claims.

The present invention relates to belt punching devices, and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved device for reducing the time and labor which is now spent in punching rubber and other belts with the holes which are necessary for the attachment of'cleats, buckets,

etc.

It is customary at the present time, when buckets are to be attached to a rubber belt, to turn the job over to an individual who carefully measures the distance between the points for holes, and thereafter punches by, hand with a mallet and punch all of the holes necessar for the attachment of buckets at regularly spaced intervals on the belt. This is a time-consuming and expensive process and is paid for according to the number of holes punched.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved machine which when it has been properly adjusted and set for a given job, may be used to punch all of the holes in a line across the belt at one time, and which thereafter determines the proper spacing of the holes longitudinally of the belt so that it is only necessary to feed the belt through the device step by step, and to actuate the punch at regular intervals when the belt has reached the proper position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved device, which when properly adjusted will assure the holes being regularly spaced both transversely and longitudinally so that there will be no danger of a misfit between the holes and the buckets, and a finished and workman-like job will be assured under all conditions. 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved punch which is provided with means for assuring the location of the belt under the punch, in engagement with a suitable guide that is so located that the holes will be properly located transversely of the belt.

Another object is the provision of an improved stopping and holding device which operates automatically in connection with a belt feed, in such manner that after one row of holes has been punched, the belt will be stopped automatically and held in position to punch the next row of holes and so on.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved belt punching machine, which is provided with means for urging the belt toward a lateral guide so that the guide will be able to determine the position of the punched apertures laterally of the belt, and in which the latter means is also adapted to cause the belt to lie flatly on the table and to avoid the upward bulge which would otherwise be caused by the belt being guided to the table from a roll on the floor.

Another object is the provision of an improved means for removing punchings from the top of the belt so that they will not interfere with thefeed rollers or the automatic stops,

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved device of the class described,

, which is simple, sturdy, accurate, capable of being manufactured at a low cost and which may be used for a long period of time without necessity for repair or replacement of any of its parts. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the two sheets of drawings accompanying this specification,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a punching machine embodying the invention, the housing being partially broken away to expose the drive mechanism for the punches;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the punching machine;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the stopping and holding mechanism for holding the belt in proper position for the punching of another set of holes, taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 66 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical elevational view showing one of the punches in partial section to show its structure.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, I0 indicates in its entirety the punching machine which preferably comprises an upper frame H suitably supported upon a plurality of legs [2. The frame H may consist of a pair of longitudinally extending angle irons I3, [4, having a horizontal flange l5 and an upwardly extending flange [6.

The longitudinal frame members I3 and I 4 may be secured together by a plurality of transverse channels i l, bolted or welded to the horizontal flanges l5, and also by a pair of table the discharge end 22 of the board I8 underneathv the punches.

The leading edge 23 of the board 18 may extend diagonally and may be parallel to the rollers 2:1, 25, 25, which are located at the receiving end of the machine. The legs i2 may consist of iron or steel pipes provided with a cap 2? at their lower ends, and with a flange fitting 28 at their upper ends. The flange fitting may be bolted or welded to the horizontal flanges iii of the frame members l3 and I4.

On particularly heavy and wide installations the legs may be suitably braced crosswise and lengthwise by diagonally extending braces welded or bolted to the legs and frame. At the feeding end of the machine the rollers W i-26 may consist of suitable steel pipes provided at their ends with plugs 29, carrying axial pins 38 which serve as trunnions.

The trunnions of rollers 2% and 2d extend through drilled apertures in the vertical flanges it of the frame members i3 and i fgthese apertures serving as bearings. Roller 25 ms its trunnions mounted in sliding blocks 25a, guided by fittings 25b and urged downward by screws. Thus the roller 25 flattens the belt on the table by holding down the upward bulge which is due to the belt hanging down at the left end of the table.

The rollers extend diagonally so that they automatically tend to feed the belt toward the right against a suitable guide, such as, for example, an angle iron 39, having a vertical flange 32 extending along the side of the table top at the bottom of Figure 1.

Thus the belt is constantly held against the guide flange 32 from wh ch the position for all holes is determined. The belt itself may be supported upon a suitable stand with a rotating roll which is located on the floor toward the left of Figure l, in position to feed the belt 33 to the machine.

At the right end of the machine, Figure i, Figure 2, the upper frame H supports a suitable feeding mechanism 3d, the details of which are shown in section in Figure 6, This feed mechanism comprises a pair or" supporting castings, such as the castings tiiflwhich have an outer web 36 joining a pair of parallel side flanges 3t, 38. ihese side flanges serve as guides for a pair of bearing blocks 39 and at.

The side flanges 37, 33, and Web 35 may be joined by a transverse integral bar ti, which is provided with apertures 02 for receiving the screw bolts by means of which the castings 35 are secured to the vertical flanges it of the frame members !3 and M, which are also apertured to receive these bolts.

The bearing block 4! is provided with an aperture for receiving the pin or trunnion 43, which rotatably supports the lower feed roller 45. This feed roller i i may, if desired, be provided with a tubular rubber cover 25, or it may consist of a steel tube provided with end plugs carrying the pins 13.

Bearing blocks it? rest on the transverse bar 34 and hold the roller 46 such a level that its top is flush with the top of the table board 1s. The E5 of the frame member it has an aperture for passing an extension of the pin ii-1',

which carries a crank as by means of which roller it may be turned. The block 39 is adapted to slide between the flanges 3'2, 38, and it has apertures for the pins 3'? which project from the ends of the roller %8.

The top yoke ii? of each casting is provided with a threaded bore for receiving a screw bolt 5i, by means of which a suitable pressure is placed on the top roller 58 to grip the belt 33 between the roller 48 androller i l toassure its feed. When the crank 46 is rotated by means of its handle 52, the rollers 4e and 13 feed the belt 33 from the left toward the right in Figure 6, and in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to Figure 5 and Figures 1 and 2, the machine is preferably provided at a central point, between the boards 58 and 9, with the punching apparatus and above the board is between the feeding apparatus 34 and the punching apparatus 53 with an automatic device 56, for stopping and holding the belt in proper position for the punching of the next series of holes.

Referring to Figure 1,155 indicates a metal bar which is mounted for vertical sliding movement and which extends diagonally with respect to-the belt. The bar 255 is for the purpose of removing punchings, and as the belt progresses under it the punchings slide toward theleft, that is, the top of Figure 1, and are discharged through the hole 253 which extends through the top of the table.

The bar 55 may be placed between the auto matic stop Eli and the punching device 53, as shown in Figure l, but if the-holes are to be too close together longitudinally of the belt this bar may be moved over toward the right between the automatic stop 54 and-the feeding mechanism 34?.

Bar i55 is supported at each end by a block 15?, each block having a diagonally extending groove 58 in which the bar E55 slides up or down. Each block l5! has a groove for receiving the guide flange 32 of angle iron 3i, and each block has a set screw 59 for securing the block in place on the flange 32. Thus the punchings are auto matically removed from th top of the belt so that they will not interfere with the automatic stop-or with the feeding mechanism.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the details of the punching mechanism are shown here in section. The side frame members l3 and Hi each support a casting 55. This casting may have a lower flat attaching flange 56, which it on the vertical flange it of the side frame member 54 and has a shoulder 5'? engaging the top of the flange 16.

Attaching flange 56 has threaded bores 53 for receiving the screw bolts 59 which pass through apertures fit in the side frame member i l, and are threaded into the attaching flange Above the attaching flange se the casting 55 has an upwardly extending housing formation comprising the yoke wall 55 and a pair of side flanges 32, G3.

The yoke wall .5! is integrally-joined to the side flanges 52 forming a half-round end housing and is provided with a curved top wall 6 3 closing the top of this casting. At one side, that is, the left side in Figure 3, the casting 55 supports a transversely extending bearing 55, the bearing of which is provided with a rotatable shaft Bl.

The shaft is? carries a pinion 68, the hub 63 of which is secured to shaft 6? by a set screw l8 and by means of a key and keyway H, Figure 3. The pinion (38 engages the teeth 72 of a rack bar '53, and the rack bar 73 is slidably mounted against a guide surface it which forms a back wall for engaging the side 75 of the rack bar.

The castings 55 are formed with a pair of vertically extending guide ribs I6 and II, the for: merof which bears the surface I4 and the latter has a guide surface 18. The guide rib I7 terminates at I9, below the pinion, to expose the teeth "I2 of the rack for engagement with the pinion 68. t V

Shaft8l projects from the bearing 65 at one side, that is, the bottom of Figure 1, where it is provided with a hub 80 for supporting a counterweightiil and a handle bar 82. Handle bar 82 mayex tend transversely through the bore 83 in as to effect a substantial balance of the weight.

of the punches and assembled cross bar, rack, etc.

The shaft 9'! supports a pinion at each of its ends for engaging a pair of racks I3, one of which is located in each casting 55. The castings 55, with their guide surfaces I8 and I also support and guide a cross bar 86, Figure 4, which is carried at each of its ends by a rack 13.

Forthis purpose the cross bar may have at each end a bore 8! for receiving a screw bolt 08 which is threaded into a threaded bore 89 in the rack 13. The counterbore 99 communicates with the bore 8'! and isadapted to receive the head of the bolt 88. Thus the racks 13 project upward at right angles to the cross bar 85 and are held in position to be engaged by the pinion 08.

The cross bar 86 supports a pair of guide plates 1 9|, 92 which may be identical in construction. Each guide plate comprises an elongated rectancomprise tapered steel members provided with' the flat end surface I06, and the axial threaded bore 102, previously mentioned, for securing them to the punch heads 91. Each punch has a cylingular strip of steel provided with apertures for receiving the screw bolts 93, by means of which both guide plates are clamped to the cross bar 86. The guide plates are provided below the cross bar with the elongated slots 94 for passing the screw bolts 95, by means of which the punches are clamped in place.

Referring to Figure 7, each punch is supported by a punch head 91, and the punch heads 91 may consist of rectangular blocks of steel fitting in between the plates 9!, 92, and having a flat upper surface 98 engaging the flat bottom surface 99 of the cross bar 85. Each punch head 91 has a lower threaded bore I00 for receiving the threaded stub bolt IOI, the other end of which is threaded into a bore I02 in a punch 96. Thus the punches are fixedly secured on the punch heads 91.

Each punch head alsov has two laterally extending threaded bores I03a, I04a, these bores registering with the elongated slots 94 in the plates 9| and 92, and receiving the screw bolts 95. Thus the screw bolts 95 may be loosened and the punch heads 9'! may be slid longitudinally Of the cross bar 86 and adjusted to any position desired, where they may be clamped by means of the bolts 95 engaging plates 9!, 92.

Each punch head may be provided with a marker, such as a groove I03 at its lower edge for. registering with the scale divisions I05, which are provided with indicia for indicating inches and fractions thereof over the full length of the plates 9|, 92. The zero point of the indicia is located at one end, as shown in Figure 4, in alignment with the inner surface I85 of a guide flange 32.

Thus the scale divisions I04, and their indicia serve to indicate in connection with the pointers drical body I01 and a frusto-conical tapered end I08.

The tapered end I08 terminates in a sharp circular edge I09, which is formed by providing a circular bore H0 in the punch. The bore I I0, becomes larger upwardly and tapers downwardly so that the punches III pass upward easily and are directed outwardly at an enlarged side aperture H2.

The center of each circular punch edge I09 is accurately aligned with the pointer I03 on the punch head 91, and the pointer I03 may be located after the punch" has been secured to its head.

A multiplicity of punches and punch heads are provided so that any number of holes may be punched in a belt passing through the'machine. When the belt is narrower than the table the extra punch heads may be slid over toward the side of the table which is vacant and clamped in place there.

In order to guide the punches 96, the two castings 55 also preferably support a pair of steel bars H3, H4, Figure 3, which are located to engage the cylindrical sides of the punches 96 and to guide them against tilting forwardly or backwardly. These guide bars I I3, H4 may be secured against the guide surfaces I8 and Id of the ribs 75, IT at the table top, as shown in Figure 3, just abov egthe top of the table and spaced therefrom sufficiently to pass any thickness of belt that might be employed.

The lower edge H5 of one of these guide bars is shown spaced from the belt 33 in Figure 4. This lower edge H5 is preferably located below the cutting edges I09 of the punches so that the bars I I3, I I4 also serve to strip the belt from the punches as the punches are raised.

In order to provide a backing against which the belt may react as it is being punched, the side frame members I3, I4 support a pair of transversely extending angle irons H6, H1, Figure 3, one on each side of the aperture or slot between the edges 2| and 22 of the table boards I8 and I9.

Each of these angle irons H6, I I! has its horizontal flange I I8 secured to the horizontal flange I5 of the frame members I3 and H! by a screw bolt H9 and a suitable nut. The two vertical flanges I20 of the angle irons H6, H1 are spaced from each other an equal amount, such as the spacing between the edges 2|, 22 of the table boards, and these vertical flanges support an elongated strip I2! of hard wood which is secured to them by through screw bolts I22.

The hard wood backing strip I2I has an upper flat surface I23 that is depressed below the table top sufiiciently to provide space for a resilient rubber back strip I24, which is cemented to the upper surface I23 and which has its upper surface flush with the table top. Thus the punches 95 are adapted to pass through the belt and to press it against the rubbe backing strip I24, which the punch cutting edge I09 eventually engages. a

The rubber backing strip I22 serves to protect 7 the sharp edge I09 of each punch 95, but the hard wood back strip I2I assures a definite and firm backing against which the punches may react, if necessary, to assure a cleanly punched hole.

The automatic stopping and holding devices 54 are preferably located between the punching mechanism 53 and the feeding mechanism 34 so that the stop mechanism 54 is in position to engage in the holes that have been previously punched. This device 54 ma consist of a pair of end castings I25, eachrof which has attaching. flanges I25 for receiving the clamping bolts I21, by means of which the castings I25 are clamped to the vertical flanges 32 of the guide members 3I. Thus the castings I25 may be moved to the right or left and adjusted as desired.

A marking groove I29 on the castings I25 may be located to register with the scale divisions I30 marked on the outside of the flanges 32, and provided with numerals to indicate the spacing from the line of centers of the punches 96.. Thus if the holes are to be spaced 12 inches longitudinally of the belt, the castings I25 of the stop device 54 will be located with the line I29 in alignment with the scale division bearing an indicia I2 in inches.

Each of the castings I25 has its upper end formed with a pair of guide flanges I3l, I32 for guiding a cam block I33. The cam block I33 comprises a block of steel of rectangular shape adapted to slide between the flanges I3I, I32, and formed adjacent its lower end with an elongated rectangular aperture I 34.

Aperture I34 is adapted to receive the elongated rectangular steel bar I35, which also passes through a registering aperture in the Web I39 of casting I25, Figure 5. The bar I35 is provided at each end with a thrust washer I3! and with a through cotter pin I38, serving to prevent longitudinal movement of the bar I35.

Referring to Figure 6, bar I35 carrie a plurality of pins I39 similar in size and shape to the punches 96, but the pins I39 may be solid pins with a circular end of the same size as the cutting end I99 of each punch 96. The pins I39 are carried by circular collars I49 having set screws I4I extending through threaded bores into a rectangular aperture I42.

The rectangular aperture I42 serves to mount the pins I39 and collars I49, for sliding movement on the bar I35. Any number of pins I39 may be employed, but assumin that the belt is properly aligned longitudinally of the table engaging one. of the guide surfaces 32, a single pin I39 may perform the function properly,

However, the bar I35 may be provided with a plurality of pins I39, will fall into the apertures that have been previously punched by the punches 9B, and the castings I25 may be so located longitudinally of the table that the spacing between the axes of the pins I39, and the axes of the punches 95 is the desired longitudinal spacing of the holes which are to be punched in the belt.

In order to lift the pins I 39 from the holes in the belt the blocks I33, Figure 5, may each be provided with a side slot I43, having at its upper side an engaging surface I44 for engagement with the pin I45 carried by shaft I45. Shaft I46 is rotatabl mounted in bearings I47 in each of the castings I25, and shaftIdIi is provided with handle at one end.

The handle I48 has two positions. When the so spaced that they,

1 marked.

handle I48 is in the position of Figure 5, it supports the block I33 in such a position that the bar I and its pins I39 rest on top the belt 33, as shown in Figure 6, but there is sufficient clearance between the bar I35 and the bottom of the slot I34 so that the pins I39 can drop down into engagement with the table top I9, when the apertures I49 in the belt 33 move over into registry with the pins I39.

When the handle I48 is turned downward counterclockwise until the end of the pin I engages surface I44 of block I33, then the block I33 is lifted sufiiciently so that it lifts the bar I35 and pins I33 out of the belt apertures I49, and it may hold the pins I39 above the belt temporarily.

The punch mechanism is preferably covered with a U-shaped hood I59 of sheet metal, such as steel, which is shaped to fit on the recessed attaching flanges I5I, carried by castings 55, to which the sheet metal hood is secured 'by the screw bolts I52. This U-shaped hood extends from one casting to the other and covers and encloses the rack and pinion mechanism while leaving the punches and their supports open for adjustment.

The operation of my belt punching machine is as follows: The belt which may be leather, rubber, canvas or of any suitable composition or fabric, may be supported on a roll on the floor or on suitable bearings at the left end of the machine, Figure 1. In some embodiments of the invention the punch shaft may be driven by means of a suitable electric motor and reducing gearing, controlled by suitable switches to eliminate manual labor.

The punches should then be lifted by moving the handle 82 to the position of Figure 2, in which the counterweight GI holds the pinions 58 in such position as to hold the racks I3 up, as shownin Figure 3.

The belt is then fed over the table top I8 until it is in position to punch the first set of holes, the longitudinal position of which should be With the belt. held by hand in proper position under the punches, the handle 82 is turned clockwise and, forced down until. all of. the holes desired are punched at once, the punches, having been previously set in proper transverse position on the .punch supporting bar 85.

The stop device 54 has been previously set to such a position longitudinally of the machine as corresponds to the desired longitudinal spacing of the holes in the belt. The belt is then fed acrossthe table top with the handle I48 of the stop. device I25 in the position of Figure 5, and the pins I39 riding on top the belt 33.

As the belt slides'toward the right the pins will eventually drop into the first-punched apertures I49, when the movement of thebelt should be stopped, as it is now in position to punch the next holes. These holes may then be punched in the, same .way by forcing the handle 82 on punchin mechanism 53 downward toward the right in Figure 2.

In the course of its movement across the table top, the leading edge of the belt 33 will eventually reach the feed rollers 44, 48. These should be adjusted to receive the belt between them, and thereafter pressure may be applied to these two rollers by means of the screw bolts 5!, so that they grip the belt.

Then assuming that the second row of holes has been punched, the automatic stop device I25 '9 may have its handle pushed downward counterclockwise in Figure 5 to raise the pins I39. While the pins are raised and the punch is raised, the crank 46 of the feed device 34 may be turned in a clockwise direction. This draws the belt 33 longitudinally of the table tops I8, I9, and

since the last apertures I49 have passed to the right beyond the pins I39, the automatic stop device I25 may have its handle I48 again moved to the position of Figure 5.

Then the pins I39 will rest'on top of the belt, 'as shown in Figure 6, and they are ready to drop into the next apertures I49, as these come into registry with the pins I 39 in the passage of the belt 33 toward the right in Figure 6. When the pins I39 are located in the last out apertures I49, then the belt is located in position to punch the next row of apertures, which is done by rotating shaft 61 clockwise in Figure 2' by means of handle 82. As this is done the pinions 68 drive the racks I3 downward and force the punches through the belt.

When the punching has been accomplished the handle 82 is moved back upward in counterclockwise direction in Figure 2, withdrawing the punches, and during this movement guide bars H3, I! 4 strip the belt from the punches. The belt is now ready to be moved to the right another step, the extent of which is determined .by the location of the pins I39.

I As the belt moves from left to right the punchings which are discharged from the punches on the top 'of the belt are automatically guided across the belt by the bar I55, and discharged on the floor or in a receptacle through hole I56.

My method of punching belts comprises the feeding of a belt longitudinally across a suitable support and urging it toward one side to guide the belt at one of its edges, stopping the feed of thebelt at predetermined positions, which positions are determined by the engagement of the last-punched holes with dummy pins suitably located on the support and riding on the belt surface ata spacing from a punch which is determined by the desired longitudinal dis tance between the holes, punching a multiplicity of holes simultaneously while the belt is held in such position by the dummy pins, removing the punches from the belt, lifting the dummy pins from the holes in the belt, feed ing the belt onward past the dummy pins and punch, permitting the dummy pins to ride on top the belt, and continuingits feed until the dumm pins drop in the last out apertures, and thereupon punching thenext series of holes located transversely of the belt.

Thereafter the belt is successively fed, stopped and punchedwith holes, which are equally spaced longitudinally of the belt and equally spaced transversely of the belt until the entire belt is provided with the desired holes.

It i will thus be observed that I have invented an improved method and machine for punching belts, by means of which the belt is automatically brought into' proper position for the punching of a multiplicity of holes in one operation, and each successive series of holes is located in the proper position longitudinally of the belt.

By my method and machine a great deal of time and labor is saved, and belts which took days to punch may now be punched in a few hours.

The present machine is adapted to be adjusted for various sizes of belts and for various num- While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a belt punching machine, the combination of a supporting table having a plurality of legs and a pair of longitudinally extending angle irons carried thereby, a platform carried by said angle irons for supporting a belt, a pair of feed rolls mounted at the output end of said machine and comprising a lower driving roll having a re.- silient tubular cover for engaging the bottom of the belt and provided witha crank, and an upper pressure roller for engaging the top of the belt;

a pair of combined housing and guide members carried by said-angle irons and extending upwardly at opposite sides of said table, said latter members being formed with aligned bearing for receiving an actuating shaft having a balance weight and an actuating arm, a pinion carried by said shaft in said latter member opposite a vertically extending rectangular guide slot, a horizontal bar provided with an upwardly extending rack at each end, the said racks being mounted in said slots in engagement with said pinions, said-horizontal bar being provided-on its opposite sides with horizontally slotted depending punch guide plates, said punch guide plates being provided with linear indicia and scale divisions for indicating the spacing of punches, a plurality of punches carried by said horizontal bar, each punch comprising a rectangular-sided block fitting between said punch guide plates and having a depending punch on said block, said block having a marker for cooperation with said scale .divisions, said marker being aligned with the center of the punch, threaded means passing through said slots and threaded into said block for clamp- Ill) ing the punch blocks in adjusted position trans-' versely of said horizontal bar, the top of each block engaging the bottom of said horizontal bar to take the thrust on the punch.

2. In a belt punching machine, the combination of a supporting table having a plurality of legs and a pair of longitudinally extending angle irons carried thereby, a platform carried by said angle irons for supporting a belt, a pair of feed rolls mounted at the output end of said machine and comprising a lower drivin roll having a resilient tubular cover for engaging the bottom of the belt and provided with a crank, and an upper pressure roller for engaging the top of the belt, a pair of combined housing and guide members carried by said angle irons and extending upwardly at opposite sides of said table, said latter members being formed with aligned bearings for. receiving an, actuating shaft having a scale divisions for indicating the spacing of punches, a plurality of punches carried by said horizontal bar,'each punch comprising a rectangular-sided block fitting between said punch guide-plates and having a depending punch on said block, said block having a marker for cooperation with said scaledivisions, said marker being aligned with the center of the punch, threaded means passing through said slots and threaded into said block for clamping the punch blocks in adjusted position transversely of said horizontal bar, the top of each block engaging the bottom of saidhorizontal bar to take the thrust on the punch, an angle iron guide member carried by said table top and extending longitudinally of one edge thereof for guiding a belt,

and a plurality of diagonally extending rollers engaging the top and bottom of said belt at the inlet end of said machine and driven by said belt as it is fed through the machine, the said diagonal rollers producing a lateral component which guides the belt against said latter guide at all times.

3. In a belt punching machine, the combination of a supporting table having a plurality of legs and a pair of longitudinally extending angle irons carried thereby, a platform carried by said angle irons for supporting a belt, a pair of feed rolls mounted at the output end of said machine and comprising a lower driving r011 having a resilient tubular cover for engaging the bottom of the belt and provided with a crank, and an upper pressure roller for engaging the top of the belt, a pair of combined housing and guide members carried by said angle irons and extending upwardly at opposite sides of said table, said latter members being formed with aligned bearings for receiving an actuating shaft having a balance weight and an actuating arm, a pinion carried by said shaft in said latter member opposite a vertically extending rectangular guide slot, a horizontal bar provided with an upwardly extending rack at each end, the said racks being mounted in said slots in engagement with said pinions, said horizontal bar being provided on its opposite sides with horizontally slotted depending punch guide plates, said punch guide plates being provided with linear indicia and scale divisions for indicating the spacing of punches, a plurality of punches carried by said horizontal bar, each punch comprising a rectangular-sided block fitting between said punch guide plates and having a depending punch on said block, said block having a marker for cooperation with said scale divisions, said marker being aligned with the center of the punch, threaded means passing through said slots and threaded into said block for clamping the punch blocks in adjusted position transversely of said horizontal bar, the top of each block engaging the bottom of said horizontal bar to take the thrust on the punch, each of said housing members also supporting a longitudinally slotted guide member for the depending punches above the belt, the said guide mem ber holding the depending punches in alignment and its lower surface engaging the belt to strip it off the punches.

4. In a belt punching machine, the combination of a supporting table having a plurality of legs and a pair longitudinally extending angle irons carried thereby, a platform carried by said angle irons for supporting a belt, a pair of feed rolls mounted at the output end of said machine and comprising a lower driving roll having a resilient tubular cover for engaging the bottom ings forreceiving an actuating shaft having a balance weight and an actuating arm, a pinion carried by said shaft in said latter member opposite a vertically extending rectangular guide slot, a horizontal bar provided with an upwardly extending rack at each end, the said racks being mounted in said slots in engagement with said pinions, said horizontal bar being provided on its opposite sides with horizontally slotted depending punch guide plates, said punch guide plates being provided with linear indicia and scale divisions for indicating the spacing of punches, a plurality of punches carried by said horizontal bar, each punch comprising a rectangular-sided block fitting between said punch guide plates and having a depending punch on said block, said block having a marker for cooperation with said scale divisions, said marker being aligned with the center of the punch, threaded means passing through said slots and threaded into said block for clamping the punch blocks in adjusted position transversely of said horizontal bar, the top of each block engaging the bottom of said horizontal bar to take the thrust on the punch, and a diagonally extending fixed barrier carried by table top between the feed rollers and the punches, said table top having an aperture for punchings at the end of said barrier which is nearest to the feed rollers, the barrier impelling the punchings laterally toward said aperture at the side of the table opposite from said guide as the belt progresses.

5. In a belt punchingmachine, the combination of a supporting table having a plurality of legs and a pair of longitudinally extending angle irons carried thereby, a platform carried by said angle irons for supporting a belt, a pair of feed rolls mounted at the output end of said machine and comprising a'lower driving roll having a resilient tubular cover for engaging the bottom of the belt and provided with a crank, and an upper pressure roller for engaging the top of the belt, a pair of combined housing and guide members carried by said angle irons and extending upwardly at opposite sides of said table, said latter members being formed with aligned bearings for receiving an actuating shaft having a balance weight and an actuating arm, a pinion carried by said shaft in said latter member opposite a vertically extending rectangular guide slot, a horizontal bar provided with an upwardly extending rack at each end, the said racks being mounted in said slots in engagement with said pinions, said horizontal bar being provided on its opposite sides with horizontally slotted depending punch guide plates, said punch guide plates being provided with linear indicia and scale divisions for indicating the spacing of punches, a

' plurality of punches carried by said horizontal bar, each punch comprising a rectangular-sided block fitting between said punch guide plates and having a depending punch on said block, said block having a marker for cooperation with said scale divisions, said marker being aligned with the center of the punch, threaded means passing through said slots and threaded into said block for clamping the punch blocks in adjusted position transversely of said horizontal bar, the top of each block engaging the bottom of said horizontal bar to take the thrust on the punch, said table REFERENCES CITED top having a pair of angle iron guides extending along the sides of said table, a pair of bearing g igggggigE are of record in the members slidably mounted for adjustment on said guides longitudinally of said table top, a UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 transversely extending pin bar shdably mounted Number Name t for vertical movement in said bearing members, a 313,172 alh t 1 Mar, 3, 1885 shaft rotatably mounted in said latter bearing 349,2 7 it 2, 1907 members and means carried by said shaft for 9 1, 53 s tt June 14, 1910 lifting said pin bar, said means being rotatable 10 1,076,772 Lilleberg Oct. 28, 1913 into a position where the pin bar may drop by 1,731,117 -w t, 3, 1929 gravity, the said bearing members being adjusted 1 79 ,939 Pollasky Man 7, 1931 to a longitudinal position on said table top equivalent to the longitudinal spacing between the FOREIGN PATENTS apertures to be punched, and the feeding 'pro- 15 Number Country Date gressing until the pins of the pin bar drop into 1,928 Great Britain July 7, 1870 the last punched apertures, when the belt is in position for the punching of the next set of apertures.

FREDERICK T. MELBERG. o 

